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Battle of the Mind - Part IV of IV 'Transforming Our Viewpoint To Overcome All Things'
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2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight in glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the thigns which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Take a look around you. What do you see as a whole? When I look around me...I see death. All things in this world passes away or put bluntly, all things die never to be taken up again. Trees die, animals die, we all die and perish because of the curse brought about by Adam. And as the human race, we walk a life of death. Most people see only that part of life. They see the pain of life, the ugliness, morbid, decaying of life. And death and decay has always been associated with pain.
“Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day to day.”
What in the world does that mean? Paul is speaking of the other half of life, the other part of “our” life. Sometimes I think we focus so much on this world we forget we are unique from all other living things. We are imortal beings, created in the likeness of God placed in a fragil earthen body.
2 Corinthians 4:7-9 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side yet not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair.; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-”
People think Christians are crazy. Look at the missionaries to foreign countries where if you even speak the name of Jesus you will be killed. How are we able to do this? How do we take control of the mind and say, “Ok Lord, even in death, I will follow You.”
“persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-” It’s only by God’s hand that we are saved or destroyed. It is Him alone we can trust above all else.
2 Corinthians 4:1 “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.” Paul hit it on the mark here. What is mercy? How or better yet WHY does Paul risk his life to speak of Christ, of placing himself where death is easily found?
“Mercy” in Strong’s concordance is this: To show kindness and concern for someone in serious need, feel compassion for, have pity. Those who take care of the sick are called eleeo, or showers of mercy. In the New Testament, the word is often used of Christ’s gracious faithfulness and proof of His benevolence. Mercy is not merely a passive emotion, but an active desire to remove the cause of distress in others.”
Paul experienced something as we all do when getting saved. I’m not talking about an outward experience but an experience of the heart. We are changed inside out starting first with the heart. Because of this evidence of the unseen, mercy is proof of God’s ultimate good towards us. The proof is staring us in the face. Now read this:
Isaiah 40:29-31 “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 30:15a “For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
Isaiah 4:31 points back to 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 where Paul speaks of persecution and pressing on. He does not faulter because He knows what the world does not know. His eyes are set on eternity going back to the beginning of this thought. 2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight in glory”
Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us.” THAT is how Paul endures and we overcome all things. We transform our viewpoint to God’s viewpoint. The sweet aroma of ETERNITY’S GLORY!
Moses chose God over being the heir of Egypt because he SAW what is unseen. When we see with our eyes, we see death and destruction. We lose all hope in God’s grace and mercy He wants to pour on us. ALL that we see around us will burn away, nothing will be left; wasted and worthless. But when we allow ourselves to look at God’s Eternal viewpoint, (learn daily to be perseptive to see the things that are not seen) we will be awe struck by what our new eyes, the eyes that are in the heart see.
Develop the seeing by opening the word of God, read it, apply it to your life and learn to think how God thinks, how He works, how He does everything. When we saturate our lives with HIS ways, we begin to think and respond as God respons, we have His viewpoint.
When we are in the dark, to get into the light, CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE! CHOOSE to believe God, choose to view life through GOD’S Viewpoint. When we have God’s viewpoint on life, we will not lose, we will not be overcome by this world. No matter what happens then, GOD is in control. We know it because He reveals it in our hearts, in our attitudes, in our minds and we KNOW the things of God. No longer are we focused on the pain in our lives. Whatever happens now...is nothing compared to eternity.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight in glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Look at verse 17 again. Did you notice something that Paul said? “...is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight in glory...”
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may hvae peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
When we finally allow ourselves to study God’s ways we will be at peace. Because in God’s view, this present time is like a blink of an eye. We have hope in that! This time we spend is short! We have our eyes set on Christ’s victory and our certainty of eternity with the Master of love, of peace, of joy, of all mercy and grace, all that our heart cries out for, it is in Christ alone and in eternity. That must be where our hearts and minds must be hoping and have faith in. Otherwise we will fall like the world and there our minds will have been conquored by our own miserable existance of sin.
Ephesians 2:14 “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of seperation,”
As Christians, knowing through evidence in the heart, in creation, and all that God has revealed to us, how much more should we walk by faith, step out and overcome the mind that tells us to do what is not right and do what is right in following God where ever He leads? Where are our eyes focused? On this world? Or Eternity’s glory?
As always...peace in our heart, love, the battle over the mind of man is won through this act: Transforming our minds, seeing with the eyes of God the things of eternal perspective. All else will not matter then. When we have suddenly glimpsed eternity...how...how can anyone who has seen eternity through the eyes of God come back to that which is filled with death, hate and wickedness? God’s glory far outweighs all things present.
My God and my Lord, Saviour, transform my life...I pray that You hear my heart Jesus and renew my eyes with those that see with your perspective, continue to fill me and remind me to watch You. Be my mentor, my Father, teach me all things according to Your will and knowledge. Give to me your own understanding to help others, Your mercy and love flooding my soul forever. Amen
~Andrew Nusz~
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